Welcome to the Band Board!

[K Wright]

THE "CLEAN AIR CHALLENGE" officially has it's own page on our website.  For those that are interested in riding, go to Message Board, then Patient Events and click on the CAC link at the top of the page. Make sure you read the links at the bottom of the page.

You need to get registered and start your fundraising now.  Registration info is on the webpage. The $450 minimum pledge is due by April 27 to reserve your spot on the ride. The Lung Association limits the number of riders.  Ask everyone you know if they would sponsor you for any amount--it all adds up. When others hear your story of weight lost and your goal to complete a 120 mile ride, you will find that they like to donate.  All proceeds go to support the Alaska Lung Association. If you already registered as an "individual", you can call the Lung Assoc. at 276-5864 and you can have your name and fundraising put on The Alaska Bariatric Center team. 

Anymore names to call our team?

There is a Bike Swap coming up at Trailside Elementary on April 7.  You can call the Arctic Bike Club hotline at 566-0177 for times.  You can sell your bike or maybe even buy one.  See you there.

To help prepare you for the CAC, REI is offering two clinics to be held from 7-8 p.m. at REI on March 28 and April 11.  These clinics will cover the same information so you only have to attend once.  There is lots of good information at this clinic.

The Arctic Bicycle Club training rides are very well put together. You have to call the hotline before each ride to get times, the start place and whether or not the ride might have been cancelled. There are always two volunteers that ride--one takes the lead and the other pulls up the rear so that no one gets left behind.  The rides vary in difficulty.  Feel free to call me at the office if you have any questions about the ride at all.

I'm getting excited about being on the road with you all!!!!

[Colette Grower]

I was banded in September 2005. I had 2 or 3 fills and was doing fine until recently I found that I was hungry about 2 hrs after eating. Dr. Todd did a fill from 2.2 cc to 2.7 cc. Then for six weeks I had awful reflux problems. We tried all types of conservative approaches. It finally got down to where I think I was doing the high calorie option. I only gained 1 pound in that period. However on Friday I went for an unfill. We went from 2.7 to 2.5 and I noticed an immediate difference. I am still on liquids. I had a little bit of coughing last night but I am so much better.

I really learned from this experience. If I am going to reach my goal of another 40 pounds I have to eat. Dr. Todd and I had a long conversation about what happens when the band is too tight. Sometimes it takes awhile for things to sink in and my mind to absorb facts. After thinking a long time, I wanted to share my thoughts about my experience. I think the same thing happens when we go on the yo yo dieting slide. We lose weight and then we rationalize that we can have such and such.

I got to thinking that I had to keep up my strength up. So then I started the ice cream thing.I do not even know that I fully realized what I was experiencing. It is the same twisted thinking that got me in trouble prior to being banded. This experience has really impressed on me the importance of my being capable of eating real food. I am presently staying on liquids with the goal of getting the swelling down, but I am going to be very careful as I start eating solids again to make sure I am getting good solid nutrition instead of high calorie foods that offer limited nutrition.

[Colette Grower]

Hi. It seems like I am the only one posting. Come on guys. We need to communicate. Has anyone else had problems with reflux after a fill and needed an unfil? 

[Colette Grower]

I got the rules off the Bandster e-mail and so I thought that I would share them. Dr. Todd can let us know if they are OK? Colette


Dr. Holloway's Golden Rules For The Lap Band

Eat only if you are hungry
Not because the clock says....
Not because you are invited to lunch...
Not because the family is eating..socialize and drink

Eat good nutritious food
Proteins vegetables fruits
Solid foods..Please no drippy soups, yogurts, meal replacements such
as slim fast

Stop when you are full
Recognizing fullness in the pouch
No pain or pressure in the chest

No Vomiting
Especially while eating
No spitting up of mucus
No productive burping of food
Too much-too fast-too big of bites
Slow down Take your time
Wait 3-4 minutes between bites..should be done eating in 15 minutes.

No Sugar
No concentrated carbohydrates
Eat the fruit rather than drinking the juices
No candy
No chocolate
No ice cream
No matter how tight we make the band it does not stop the added
calories and it does not keep the hunger away

Exercise
As the weight comes off your activity level will naturally increase
exercise as tolerated

Regular followup with your doctor

[Peggy Bear]

Hi everybody, this is my first posting.....pre surgery and no date yet.
I've attended 4 classes and always find new information and support.
My question is about slim fast.  Why will that be off the list of things we can
have later? It has 10 grams of protein!

[Colette Grower]

Eating after the band means not eating things that go straight through the band which would be liquids, sugar, ice cream, candy, and maybe things like crepes. It defeats the purpose of the band. The band puts pressure on the stomach and takes some of the urge and hunger away. The food presses back on the pouch. If you eat things that go through the band quickly you will experience hunger sooner. However, if you feel you need extra protein and figure the calories in then there is nothing really wrong with it. This is particularly true post op when you are on liquids. You need to stay on the post op diet exactly the way the staff tell you. The post op diet allows the band to settle in and protects you from complications. Also there are lots of recipes on the yahoo bandster sites. It is just different. The band is made for hard protein, fruits and vegetables. Although you still have to be careful of consistency and texture. If things are dry people sometimes have trouble with things sticking. Also, many people can not eat regular bread because of the gluten. You might want to go to Amazon and look for books by Dr. Ortiz or/and Jessie Ahern, RN. They may help. The Ahern book is maybe a better pre op book. Dr. Ortiz's book has some of that information and it does give a more holistic picture of life with the band. This is a life style change. Good Luck Colette

[Monica Merrell]

Hi Everyone!  I am new here.  My name is Monica and I live in Fairbanks.  I am pre-op.  I have an appt. with Dr. Lucht on the 13th and will see what else I have to do after that one.  I hope this board picks up some more because it would be great to hear other people's experience with the band.

[Kris W]

Hi all.  This is my first post, although I've been attending band support group meetings since December.  I am going through the 6 month weight loss program required by my insurance company prior to having my band surgery.  So far I have lost 5 pounds, the hard way.  I am gradually getting the pre-surgery requirments completed.  Have had the chest X-ray, EKG, Upper GI and Abdominal Ultrasound.  Tests confirmed that I still have acid reflux, as well as a "small" hiatal hernia, same as the same tests indicated 20 years ago.  I take Nexium for the reflux and am concerned if this problem will get worse after I have my band installed.

Anyway, hoping to be cleared for surgery by the insurance company by July or August.

[Heidi]

Hi,
I'm having a real difficult time with Reflux. I'm careful not to eat at least 2-3 hours before I go to bed and still wake up almost every night with Acid Reflux. Never had the problem before I was banded. Does anyone else experience the same thing? Any suggestions to help?

[Rebecca DeBoard]

Hi. I am new at this so I hope I'm doing this right. If I am not, please let me know. I am going to be moving to the Kenai area around the first week of May and was wondering if there are support groups there. I had my band surgery the 18th of January and have lost 46 pounds so far. If I need to come to Anchorage once a month then I will. Thank you for your help.  Thanks Rebecca DeBoard

[Janice Stoker]

Hi, I had my lapband done on Friday the 13th (April 2007). I am just taking it easy and healing. I have had very little pain. No reflux after the surgery. I am getting stronger each day and can't wait to go back to work. Thank you Dr Todd for the wonderful care you have given me.

[Monica Merrell]

Congrats Janice!  I am so happy to hear that you have had very little pain.  I am hoping my day comes soon.  Keep us updated because I would love to hear how things are going with you.

[Michael A Todd, MD]

Hi, All.  Haven't been on this board for a bit, but I see things are picking up.  I will try to stop by on a regular basis...Collete, those rules are great.  We should post them in the office...See you all in the office!

[Colette Grower]

I really want to thank Dr. Todd and his staff for all the hard work they do for us. This is above and beyond normal office service. I think it pays off but it is time consuming and demanding. Thanks again. 

[Misty]

HI, I am new here. I am in Soldotna. I have been researching the lap-band for several months. I would like to take the next step. I know that includes the meetings, but is there any other alternatives? I live in Soldotna, and I can't figure out how to be in Anchorage for the meetings without my 3 children in tow.

Second problem. I don't have insurance, none at all. Is it impossible to get this procedure done without haveing to have insurance? What is a basic cost?

In everyones opinion, should I wait because I have 3 small children? I really want to get this done. I am 27, I have a BMI of 43. I am constantly depressed over my weight. I have done the adkins. I have done the weight watchers. I have done the personal trainer at my local gym. And still to this day I eat lots of salads and I swim 3 night a week, 30 laps with short split fins. I am not loosing weight. I have been doing this current regiments for 5 months and only lost 10 pounds. I am extremely discouraged, and would like to take the next step.

Thanks so MUCH!